Tag: Public Realm

Discovery Walk Project Updates

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  • Artist rendering of proposed Discovery Walk project.

Planning for the future by creating a connected city

What is Discovery Walk? 

Discovery Walk is a four-block linear parkway in downtown Rochester, MN along 2nd Avenue SW that will serve pedestrians as well as vehicle traffic. This multipurpose public space and streetscape is the first of its kind in Rochester. The vision for this project is to create a high amenity landscaped road and utility reconstruction project in the middle of downtown that prioritizes pedestrian experience while also maintaining flexibility for bike and vehicular access, civic events, and supports future development.

Business Forward: Downtown Rochester Businesses Top of Mind for Heart of the City Project Leaders

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Destination Medical Center (DMC) is prototyping a kinder future for construction; one that considers patients, pedestrians, and business owners first. It’s called Business Forward.

“Every business owner will say that anytime they’ve had construction in front of their businesses, they’ve never felt like they’ve been a part of the plan,” says Jamie Rothe, Director of Community Engagement and Experience for DMC Economic Development Agency. “With this type of project, we felt like we needed to build it together. And that’s what we need to do; share information, get information back, then modify and adjust.”

Rochester City Council approves next phase of design for Discovery Walk in downtown Rochester

Press Releases

The Rochester City Council has approved plans to move forward with design development, engineering work and construction bidding for Destination Medical Center’s (DMC) Discovery Walk, a five-block linear parkway along 2nd Avenue SW in downtown Rochester that will serve pedestrians as well as vehicle access.  The design process is led by Coen+Partners.

Testing Heart of the City Design Concepts in Peace Plaza

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Prototypes in Peace Plaza

Destination Medical Center (DMC) and the Heart of the City design team collaborated with local prototypers to test out design concepts for Heart of the City Phase 1 and create an engaging public realm. The design team includes Minneapolis-based landscape architects Coen+Partners in collaboration with RSP Architects, El Dorado, Latent Design, Kimley-Horn Associates, and Fluidity.

 

The prototypers were selected based on work presented at the 2016 Rochester Prototyping Festival. The design team felt these prototypes resonated with Heart of the City public realm work and invited the prototypers to test out a 2.0 version of their original concepts. The installations will be on display in Peace Plaza through mid-November.

DMC seeks community input in next steps for St. Marys Place and 2nd Street

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The DMC sub-district known as St. Marys Place has received a great deal of attention of late. With several new development projects under consideration or in the works, DMC needs your help.

Several months ago, in collaboration with the City of Rochester and a team of stakeholders, DMC began a design process for the public realm and infrastructure for the area and the 2nd Street Corridor.

Contextual map of area
Contextual map of area

The process began by assembling and analyzing existing and new data. This served as the foundation for a recent “Design Sprint,” which involved three teams of stakeholders who were asked to explore and develop concepts to address design issues, such as transportation, parking, commercial districts, and neighborhood connections. Each team took on a different point of view for design considerations. One group took on the perspective of patients, visitors, and St. Marys employees; another, adjacent business and property owners; and the third, nearby neighborhoods.

Progress continues in the St Marys Place sub-district

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A few months ago, DMC developed the design process for the public realm/public infrastructure for the St. Marys Place sub-district and 2nd Street Corridor. With the data collection phase complete, we recently initiated the next step in the process: the Design Sprint.

St-Marys-PlaceThis process called for teams of stakeholders – property owners, neighborhood leaders, Mayo Clinic representatives, and city staff – to work with a team of designers to develop concepts that address issues such as pedestrian circulation (think streetscape, skyways, and tunnels), parking, and neighborhood connections.

Destination Medical Center Corporation Board Meeting Highlights Substantial Progress Occurring in DMC District

Press Releases

ROCHESTER, Minn. (May 26, 2016) – At today’s board meeting, the Destination Medical Center (DMC) Corporation Board of Directors highlighted the substantial progress being made on projects in the DMC District. These projects include some of the DMC’s top development priorities: Discovery Square, Heart of the City, and transportation improvements. The Board also heard plans for DMC’s participation in this year’s BIO International Convention, the largest international event for the biotechnology industry.